McCarthy is fined £200,000 by West Ham for being too fat... but is then dropped because slimming regime made him too slow

Benni McCarthy has beenfined almost £200,000 by WestHam for failing to meet fitnesstargets in his bizarre battle of thebulge.

But having finally slimmeddown as Avram Grant finalisedhis 25-man Premier League squadfor the second half of the season,he was left out because his slimmingregime made him too slow.

Hammers boss Grant believes the weight loss has slowed the striker down saying: 'He reached the targets but I think that affected his movement,'who lastweek left McCarthy out of his25-man Premier League squad.

Before and after: McCarthy ballooned to more than 15st but has now hit his target weight

'He's a very good player and oneof the best finishers in trainingthat I have ever seen, and I havehad some good players.

'But now we need players withmovement and the advantage ofbeing quick, and we have others.'

McCarthy was challenged at thebeginning of the season to lose2.2lb in weight for five or sixweeks or face a fine of one week'swages each time he failed.

He reached his target of 13st 5lbby October after ballooning tomore than 15st at one stage andhis body fat went down from 24.2per cent at the end of last seasonto 16 per cent by mid-August. Aprofessional athlete is expectedto carry from five to 12 per cent.

McCarthy earns £38,000 a weekand appears to have been finedfive times in his long-term weightbattle.

Benni McCarthy's weight-watchers loss

May 2010: His body fat reaches 24.2 per cent — more than double that of a healthy athlete

June 2010: Left out of South Africa’sWorld Cup squad because of fitnessproblems

August 2010: At West Ham, told to lose 2.2lb a week at start of season or face a £38,000 fine each time he fails

September 2010: McCarthy has lost 18lb but has more to go

October 2010: Finally reaches West Ham’s 13st 5lb target

February 2011: Fit, but told he’s too slow for Premier League

Injuries have not helped,but his fitness success hasdamaged his prospects, if not hisbank balance.

Grant claims McCarthy hasremained upbeat despite his problems.

'I don't know if you knowBenni,' said the manager.

'He isalways happy.'

But his agent, Rob Moore,insisted this should not be misinterpreted,saying: 'He wants toplay and is not a guy who wants tosit around and collect his cheque.

'Avram has a job to do and theteam are in a difficult position, soyou can't blame him for makingdecisions he believes in, but Bennihas had hardly any game timeand it's inevitable he would get abit disheartened.

'He's at the level of fitness andweight the club prescribed andthey are happy with that. But heis 33 years old and we have to berealistic.'

West Ham have just signed RobbieKeane on loan and have Victor Obinna, Frederic Piquionne andCarlton Cole ahead of McCarthy.

He is wanted by two MLS clubson loan but might have to take a temporary move to a Championshipclub to get playing again.

The former Blackburn striker,signed from Rovers for £2.5millionin January last year, had atrial for QPR last month but wasunable to clinch a deal.McCarthy's wages could be anobstacle to a loan move if they arenot subsidised, but limiting additionaloutlay will be a priority.

The total bill for McCarthy'sservices to West Ham has reachedaround £4.3m yet he has made just14 appearances without scoring.He has 17 months left on hiscontract, which could cost theclub a further £2.8m in wages,and he has declined a £1m offer toterminate his deal.